College won’t comment on potential land buy

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Yavapai College administrators would not comment about the substance of a closed-door executive session conducted by Yavapai College District Governing Board when the purchase of 20 acres of Verde Valley property was discussed.

The board considered but did not decide on the purchase of land owned by the school’s nonprofit foundation during an executive session Dec. 14.

Vice President for Administration and Finance Clint Ewell said he could not comment on what took place during the executive session or why purchasing the land was under consideration.

Situated on Windmill Lane in Clarkdale, the land was part of the initial 50 acres purchased by Yavapai College Foundation to build the school. The current campus consists of 30 acres. The remaining 20 acres continues to be owned by the foundation, Ewell said.

The land, situated next to the southern boundary of the college, is currently vacant. It has been held by the foundation for the benefit of the college for several years. The original intention was for the foundation to hold the land until the college was ready to expand, Ewell said.

The land has been held separately by the foundation because state law prohibits community colleges from owning capital assets like undeveloped land held for future development, Ewell said.

“The foundation has offered to sell the property to the college,” he said. “A final decision is expected in January.”

“The purpose of the Yavapai College Foundation, its sole reason for existence, is to support Yavapai College,” Ewell said. “Its two boards work very closely together.”

In the past, the foundation has leased buildings it owns to the college to be used as classrooms or for other purposes, he said.The property under consideration was valued by an independent appraiser at $400,000, according to Yavapai College Foundation Executive Director Steve Walker, who made the announcement at a recent meeting of the foundation’s board of directors, Ewell said.